Honiton (East Devon) lace sprig
A garden beetle with the body worked in wholestitch and halfstitch comes to life in this East Devon bobbin lace motif. This little creepy crawly is one of a series of naturalistic sprigs (lace motifs) said to have been designed and made by Louisa Tucker, a daughter of the Branscombe lace manufacturer John Tucker. These finely made pieces are naturalistic representations of wild and garden plants and insects. They were made on a lace pillow using bobbins wound with fine cotton threads. The lace-maker added a three-dimensional effect to the beetle by using the technique of raised and rolled work. The tiny legs are worked in rib.
John Tucker’s successful family business had an office in London run by his son. The firm had the distinction of supplying lace to HRH Princess Alexandra for her marriage to Albert Edward in 1863. Her wedding lace now forms part of the Royal Collections held by HM the Queen.
John Tucker’s successful family business had an office in London run by his son. The firm had the distinction of supplying lace to HRH Princess Alexandra for her marriage to Albert Edward in 1863. Her wedding lace now forms part of the Royal Collections held by HM the Queen.
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 19/1931/16
- Category
- Decorative Art
- Collection Class
- Textiles and equipment
- Material
- cotton
- Common Name
- Honiton (East Devon) lace sprig
- Simple Name
- lace sprig
- Period Classification
- Victorian (1837-1901)
- Production Town
- Branscombe
- Production County
- Devon
- Production Country
- United Kingdom: England
- Production Person Initials
- Louisa
- Production Person Surname
- Tucker
- Production Year Low
- 1870
- Production Year High
- 1880
